Top-20 list of your Favorite SJ Tracks Not heard often

[JoshB]

I thought this would be interesting, especially with all the discussion of the state of the format, which now is pretty bleak. I kind of got the idea from the JRN playlist thread that was started and had some interesting tracks. What are some of your favorite tracks not typically heard on the radio (or not often) and where did you first hear it if you can remember. Sources can be anything from Internet stations (like smoothjazz.com, sky.fm, etc.) to independent non-BA stations (like KIFM or KWJZ), Jones Radio Network, or satellite radio. It doesn't have to be just mainstream artist either.

Hopefully this will accomplish several things. 1. Showing BA (and other's out there) that there is more to Smooth Jazz than Kenny G, thrown in with a mix of Alicia Keys and Phil Collins and pray that someone stumbles upon this forum and makes the change, I know wishful thinking, lol ;D. 2. Will help us SJ fans find out what's new and good out there. Since, a lot of stations have been converting over to BA or limiting their playlist, it's making it hard to find anything good artist. Internet stations are also limiting their selections due to royality cost. 3. To get our minds off of the sad state of smooth jazz, as it is today.

My Sample Playlist (Not any particular order):

1. Darryl Williams - Take It Slow (KOAS Oasis Lounge)
2. Najee - Day By Day
3. Brian Krinek - I Know The Feeling
4. Marcos Ariel - Green Eyes (KIFM)
5. Celine Dion/Kenny G - Halfway to Heaven (WBAV Sunday Jazz brunch/ JRN)
6. Bobby Wells - Pastel Horizon
7. Yellowjackets - The Ballad of the Whales (XM Watercolors)
8. Keiko Matsui - Souvenir (I came across the track I this forum, and listened to it and liked it)
9. Justin Young - Sunny (Ditto to this one, forumer heard it on JRN)
10. Najee/BeBe Winans - Someone Watching Over You (WBAV Sunday Jazz brunch)
11. Windows - 4:05 Sunset (KIFM)
12. Randy Scott - Bliss
13. Earl Klugh - Master of Suspense (KTWV)
14. Brenda Russell - Ideal World (JRN)
15. Najee - Peruvian Sunset (KWJZ)
16. Mindi Abair - Rain (Chill w/ Mindi Abair)
17. Joe McBride - After Sunset
18. Kim Waters - Water's Edge
19. Kerry Moy - Jasmine Flower (KIFM)
20. Rob White - Oasis

BA please take note of this thread

 

[cklw800]

Sorry so late in responding to a great topic I think, but so many of us have expressed some of the tunes we would like to hear often or at all in this format. For kicks I did come up with a list that includes current releases;

Religify/Geez Spot/Cafe Del Rio from Euge Groove's "Born 2 Groove"
Clarity from Najee's new one (it's the John Mayer song)
Chicago (Here We Go) from Andre Ward's "Crystal City"
Been Too Long/The Drop from Four80East
Allure/Into The Night from Keiko Matsui's latest
American Garden from Phillip Martin's latest (heard it on WATERCOLORS in December on a road trip)
Back To The Funk/On A Clear Day from Bradley Leighton's 2005 CD "Back To The Funk"
Big Ol' Shoes-Kirk Whalum from his latest
Drive Time-David Benoit from a late 80s CD
Watermelon Man/Chameleon-Herbie Hancock form 1973's "HEADHUNTERS"
Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)-Deodato from "Prelude" (1973)
Westchester Lady/Look Alike/Feel Like Making Love (all early Bob James)
Put It Where You Want It-Crusaders from "Crusaders One" (1972)

That's 21 tunes but ones that come more immediately to mind.

 

[AnotherCat]

Oh, lord, couldn't stop at 20 and this is mostly a-N and these are very tasty commercial tracks that used to get a lot of format love. The amount of songs that are MIA at this time is just a tad overwhelming! :
Safari-Keiko Matsui
Sneak A Peek - Euge Groove
Caravan of Dreams/Venice Beach - Peter White
Playin' - Brian Culbertson
Playing for Time - Acoustic Alchemy
FireFly - Greg Adams
Palm Strings - Marc Antoine
Straignt Into Sunrise - Gato Barbieri
Summer Fling - Spyro Gyra
ReJoyce - David Benoit
CamelBack - Joyce Cooling
Playing With Fire- Kirk Whalum
Fly By Night- George Benson
Rick Braun - Hollywood and Vine
Lydian or This Time Around - Norman Brown
Beneath The Light - Chuck Loeb
Chopsticks - Jeff Lorber
Honey Dipped -Dave Koz
Drive Time - Chris Botti
Another Goodbye - Warren Hill
Waterfall - Kim Waters
After The Rain, Into The Blue, Backbone, Here She Comes (just pick) Boney James
Tales of a Gypsy - Marion Meadows
Till We Meet Again - Paul Taylor
Always - Nelson Rangell
NY/LA or Say It Again - Steve Cole
anything by The Rippingtons who are totally MIA from the "format" now.

 

[JoshB]

Good list guys, this is what the format should go back too. I still don't understand why these programmers well really one, BA, wants to make the format sound like a cheap blend of A/C and urban A/C thrown in with a mix of a limited amount of real smooth jazz artist. I hate what they are doing. :-[

Here's an extension to my list; I was browsing the net and listening to net radio and found some good tracks.

1. The Yellowjackets - Market Street
2. Marcus Johnson - Sandy Point
3. Pieces of a Dream - Remembrance (9/11/01)
4. Hiroshima - Why Can't I Love You
5. Open Door - The Curved Sky
6. Chris Camozzi - Swing Shift
7. Kirk Whalum - I Try
8. Marcus Johnson - 18th and M
9. Dancing Fantasy - Seasons
10. Fourplay - Why Can't It Wait Till Morning (If they are going to include Phil Collins and other pop artist and do remakes, this is how it should be done on a SJ station, IMO)

Anyone know of any good new artist out there? It's hard to find new artist since they don't get air time. Heck, even the current big artist are loosing air time to pop music or either having the station totally dropping the format.

 

[cklw800]

Josh B; some new artists to look out for. Well, not all new but not getting any or significant terrestrial airplay...

Phillip Martin - American Garden Heard it on satellite radio

Darren Motamedy - saxophonist, "Love You Just So Much" getting some play, but check out "Makes Me Feel Young" from that CD, which is titled "Don't Cha Know."

Lionel Lueke, guitarist. It's coming out this month. You can hear his work on Herbie Hancok's "The Joni Letters" and many other CDs. Wayne Shorter and Herbie are the special guests on the new release. I read about it in Billboard in February.

Mike Catalano - keyboardist, CD called "A Manhattan Affair". Check "Smooth As Silk", "Right On Time" and especially "Urban Delight (Mo' Bim)".

Just a few that come to mind that I read about first, then gambled. Came home with GOLD!